Jamaican court overturns decision against Howell

(CNS): The Jamaican court of appeal has overturned a decision by a summary court judge in a civil dispute in which Delroy Howell and his business partner Kenarthur Mitchell were ordered to pay millions of dollars to the owners of  a company he formally owned. Howell who also was the former owner of the local Quik-Cash stores here in Cayman had appealed the decision handed down by Justice Brooks and he was granted that appeal on Friday. The order, which has now been set aside related to First Financial Caribbean Trust Company Limited. According to a release from Howell on Monday, the appeal court will be giving the reasons for its decision at a later date.

Howell’s successful appeal comes just days after Jamaica's Supreme Court had re-imposed limits on four of his companies. The Jamaican Gleaner reported thatan order restraining the transfer or disposal of assets valued up to US$3.4 million that formed part of the contested lawsuit was made last week after hearings lasting 10 days.

On Wednesday, lawyers had asked for Howell to be excluded from the freezing order but the request was denied. The current US$3.4 million freeze, affects the proceeds of a transaction between First Financial and JN Money Services regarding the sale of Howell's QuikCash business in Cayman.

The first injunction had frozen assets of close to US$14 million, but the defendants' attorneys wrestled the figure down to around a quarter of the original sum in several court appearances. The defendants deny any wrongdoing and are also fighting a related court case in the Turks and Caicos Islands over control of First Financial Trust, with director of the trust company Judith Wilchombe.